Education
The foundation of the future
Children's education is our top priority. Ultimately, the children have to find a job in a difficult labour market. Without a normal family network, education and training are essential.
When a child comes to us at a very young age we have a small baby class where one of the mothers helps them learn to walk, talk and sing a large number of songs in Swahili and English.
Then they go to an internal kindergarten class where a fully qualified teacher teaches them to read and write as well as some words and nursery rhymes in English.
In Tanzania, children start primary school from the age of seven. It is mandatory and is not expensive. Initially, we sent all our children to the local primary school in Mkuranga. The class size was 100+ and the school struggled to meet the special needs of children who entered school relatively late in life.
Baby class with one of the mothers.
100+ children in a classroom of the local primary school in Mkuranga.In the Children's Village, reading and learning are stimulated in various ways. That is why we have a library with more than 1000 books. Most in English, but some in Kiswahili which are very popular. There is also a computer room with donated computers on which courses are given. There are also sewing machines, bicycle repair facilities and continuous training in an agricultural project on our land.
Some children with serious developmental problems attend a special education school five days a week.
In 2015 a new primary school called Lifewaylight opened its doors about 100 meters from our front door. They only teach in English and keep classes limited to 30 or less. For a small fee, we find that children who have been there for a few years read, write and speak English quite well. This is an asset to their entire lives, but it especially helps with further education which is mainly taught in English.
The library set up at the back of one of the classrooms.
Young adults attending vocational training in Dar es Salaam.The children who come to Malaika Kids have different ages. If they are in the later stages of primary education and cannot speak English, it is necessary to use the Swahili speaking primary school. For these children we also give remedial lessons in the village every day.
Based on their results at primary school, it is determined whether the children go to secondary school or to an appropriate vocational training. For the children who get good grades in their last year of primary school, we use the academically strict boarding school St. Matthew's for secondary education. For the less strong children we use the Ujenzi secondary school – also a boarding school, but less academically strong. The children who follow vocational training return to Dar es Salaam where various vocational courses are offered.